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“What have I done?” says Anakin. He stumbles back and falls against something. His mind is too preoccupied to care what it is. His lightsaber falls to the floor. His life falls to the floor. The dragon within him begins to weep. The bright light is fading, being replaced by a sickening darkness.
A monster stands in front of him. Its eyes are yellowed and its skin is a sickening pale color.
Anakin wants to vomit. He wants to rip his hair out and scream. Scream for Padmé, who is dying right now. She’s dying and it’s all his fault. He won’t be able to save her in time. Padmé, I’m so sorry. Padmé, my love, I am so sorry.
Tears flow from his eyes. The monster says something. Anakin replies in words that are not his at all.
“I will do whatever you ask.”
“Good.” And the monster smiles. It’s an ugly smile, with yellowed teeth and foul intentions. It laughs. It’s like nails scratching against a piece of slate. Anakin wants to dig his nails into its flesh and rip it to shreds with his bare hands. The dragon wipes its tears and snarls.
“Just help me save Padmé’s life. I can’t live without her. I won’t let her die,” Anakin sobs, grasping his cloak in his fists. He means that part. That came from Anakin Skywalker, Senator Amidala’s husband and Jedi Knight. He feels like his arms are being ripped out of their sockets, like his entire mind, body and soul are being thrown into the deepest, darkest depths of a black hole. There is no escape for the dragon.
And then there is light. A bright, blue flash of superheated plasma. A voice yelling. A familiar voice. It’s screaming at Anakin to get up and run. Anakin glances up for a moment and sees the face of family. The only family he has ever known. His brother. Obi-Wan.
“Obi-Wan?” he pants, utterly perplexed. Obi-Wan was halfway across the galaxy just a moment ago. How was he here now?
“ Run, Anakin! Get out! ” Anakin scrambles to his feet, using the Force to pull his lightsaber into his hand. He backs up to the entryway, now his exit and only hope for survival. He can’t leave Obi-Wan here alone. He can’t do that to his brother.
“Go, Anakin, get out of here!” Obi-Wan howls as he parries the monster’s blood-red blade with his own blue one. No, Obi-Wan. I need to help you! Anakin wants to shout, but something holds him back. Tears threaten to run down his cheeks as he wipes his bloodied nose. Obi-Wan begins to yell something else to him, but Anakin's head is ringing and he’s torn between helping his brother and running. “Padmé needs you, Anakin.”
Padmé.
Anakin looks up at Obi-Wan, intense gratitude and flaming desperation flashing in his eyes. He runs out of the monster’s chambers, down the red halls, and towards the landing platform. He passes a group of Jedi reinforcements. They try to stop him, to ask him what is happening, but he keeps running. The dragon roars.
Artoo is waiting in the starfighter for him. His blue and silver dome rotates back and forth quickly, squealing and chirping at Anakin.
“We’ve got to get home, Artoo. Fast,” Anakin pants as he jumps into the seat and pulls away from the platform. The dragon is flying in tight circles now, immensely relieved yet remaining apprehensive.
During the flight to Padmé’s apartment, Anakin ruminates about what he had just done.
He had just willingly submitted himself to the dark side. To the Sith. To the Dark Lord of the Sith. To Darth Sidious . The Sith they’ve been looking for. What had he done?